100 Years of Archaeology at PTS

Listen to an American Church in Paris radio interview with Dr. Ron Tappy, director of the Museum, who talks about the Seminary's history of archaeology.

Archaeology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary dates to 1908, when the Rev. M.G. Kyle became the first lecturer at a Protestant seminary in biblical archaeology. During the 20th century, the work expanded to include excavation, publication, a museum, and public programming. Kyle was followed in archaeological work for PTS by

James L. Kelso (1930-1963)

Paul Lapp (1968-1970)

Nancy Lapp (1970-2000)

Ron Tappy (1997-present)

The core of the museum's collection is composed of excavations sponsored by PTS at four sites with artifacts spanning thousands of years:

BAB EDH DHRA on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, site of an Early Bronze Age city and cemeteries.

TELL BEIT MIRSIM in the southwestern foothills, a succession of cities of Bronze and Iron Ages.

BETHEL on the border of ancient Israel and Judah, a site inhabited from Chalcolithic through Roman time.

TULUL EL ALAYIQ near Jericho, a palace complex built in Hellenistic times and later renovated by Herod the Great.

PTS archaeologists have also worked at sites such as Nitla, Tell el Ful, Ashdod, and Wadi el Daliyeh. These efforts contributed to a growing understanding of the world of the Bible, bringing thousands of artifacts to the Seminary for study.

The Seminary's commitment to archaeology continues with the work of Ron Tappy, who is currently excavating at Tel Zayit (Arabic Zeitah) in the Shephelah, or "foothills", an hour southwest of Jerusalem.